Internal combustion engine valve



Nov. 28, 1944. J. H. GRUBE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE VALVE Filed Jurxe 8, 1942 Jahn @rabe Patented Nov; 28, 1944 UNITED STATES i j "2,364,940 ,r INTERNAL ooMBUSTroN-ENGINE vALvnV Jamin. Grube, Pasadena, Calif." application June s, 1942i," Seniat-No. 446,283 f a sciaims. (ci. 12e-fer) This invent-ion relates to improvements in ini ternal combustion engines and more particularly" pertains to valvefrnechanism for such engines.

` ,V The primary `object cfthi's inventionis to pro-U `vide valve mechanisms which will` increase the general efciency of an internal combustion engine by alfording the advantages and improvements 4as follows:

1. Increased volumetric eciency.

I2l. Higher -power peak.

43; Quicker acceleration. 4. Minimized friction, `vibration and noise. 5. Higher compressionratio.

6. Automatic wearcornpensating'adjustment of thevalves v "7. Uniform expansion and elimination of sticking ofthe valves.

"8. More efficient cooling` of the valves. 9. Accessibility and replacement of valve parts and removal of carbon without requiring removal of engine head.

10. Low power operation of valves.

11. vlvlaintained ltiming adjustment, onceset.

tion; l

engine valve mechanism :embodying my inven- Fia '2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional,

"view taken on `the line 2-2 of Fig. `1 showing the uvalve closed; i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary liorizonta1 sectional `view taken `on the 'line 2-2 of Fig.- l showing `the valve open; v

'Fig.4 is .a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1- to illustrate thespring means for closing the -valve;

w trate ythe cam means; u

Another object of my Vinventionis` to provide an improved valve 'mechanisml of the character described wherein `individualintake and exhaust valvespercylinder, and in the form of frustoconical plugs operated with an oscillatorymovement, achieve the improvements and advantages defined herein in a particularly efficacious `manf'.

ner.

A further object o frny invention is to provide a, Ynovel `drive or operation means for the valves of my invention which is simple, inexpensive Yand reliable `in performance over long periods of l use without `requiring adjustment or replacement of parts and also prevents the valves `from stick- Aing while permitting of automatic wearcompensating adjustment of the `valves.

Yetanother object of my invention'is to provide an internal combustion-engine valvesuch Yas described which ha-s `a lubricated and `fluid cooled seat and Athereby floats on the lubricant and operates with greater precision, ,nicetyr ofr control and eciency than possible with the presfent-daytypes of rotary, `slide or poppet valves. `With theforegoing objects in view,` together1 `with such other objects 1and advantages as may subsequently' appear, the invention resides in the parts and inthe combination` constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated 'bylway of example in. the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is affragmentary verticalsectional view,

partly `in elzevation;` of` an internalcombustion Fig. 6 is an enlarged yfragmentary part section-part elevational view showing the formation of the valve and the manner of connectingit with the drive shaft therefor. i i x In accordance with myinvention separate intake and exhaust valves are provided for each cylinder of an internal combustion engine with Aeach valve constructed and arranged vas shown in Fig. `1 of the accompanying drawing wherein` y A designates one of my improved valves, B the cylinder head, C anuengine cylinder, and D the sides of a frusta-conical valve seat Ii formed inthe cylinder head `'duct l2 which latter opens into the combustion chamber C1' of thecylinder `C. The valve seat H extends through the lower wall I3 of the head B'part way as a conical porltion I I a and the remainder as a cylindrical pcri tion il'b."` `Similarly `themseat extends through lthe upper Wall "l5 of `the head in the form of` a conical inner-portion 1| lc and aiscrew threaded yand Hf ofthe walls of the duct I2 as shown in Figs. Zand 3, which sections are contiguous with the seatportions I la and I Ic.

t rt'wni be observed thatthe valve seats on the' aforesaid conical portions of the `seat Il `in such manner vthat it will automaticallyaccommodate itself to lseat in case of `wear and is subject `to a slight lifting Vand consequent loosening` during its-operation as aresult of the operating thrust imparted thereto as willbe hereinafter ,more fully described, and moreovertwhen .i

the force of the expanding gases (exhaust) is applied thereto thereby preventing sticking of the valve.

On the upper end of the valve is a thrust washer I6 which has an axially slidable fit in a cylindrical counter bore ||g as shown in Fig. 6, so that a spring loaded thrust pin |1 in a plug I8 may `be effective against said washer to urge the valve into properly seated position, said plug being screwed into `the threaded portion IId. The plug. I8 is spaced from the washer whereby the latter may be moved freely outward as Well as inward with axial movement of the valve.

The lower end of the valve seated in the seat portion Ia is provided with an elongated slot I!!l of rectilinear outline, adapted to receive a drive key provided on the upper end of a sectional drive shaft 2|, as shown in Fig. 6.' The slot I9 is longer than the drive key so that the vupper end of said key is spaced from the inner end of said slot. and the valve is therefore free to move axially while at the same time being drivingly connected with the drive` shaft by means ofthe parallel opposedfiat sides of the slot and drive key which are in sliding contact with one another at all times.

fThe head B is provided with a water jacket 22 surrounding theV valve seat and valve area of the head as will be seen in Fig. 1 to insureeffective cooling of the valve.

Means is providedfor maintaining a coating of lm of lubricant on the valve and its seat to improve the efficiency of the valve andengine as a whole. As here shown'the valve is provided adjacent its upper and lower ends with circumferential oil grooves 23 and 24,joined by longitudinal grooves 25 at spaced intervals around the valve. An oil pressure feed port 26 in the 'head B opens into the groove 24 to supply under oil pressure from a source not shown tothe oil grooves in the valve.

I have found that a valvel constructed as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawing, when opened and closed with -an oscillatory movement affords the improvei ments hereinbefore noted ina -highly efficacious manner and consequently the operating means D is designed to oscillate the valve in the particular manner here disclosedl As here provided the upper section 2 Iaof the drive shaft 2| is drivingly and relatively axially adjustably coupled to an intermediate section 2 Ib of the shaft by means of wedge drive key 21 vfixed to the upper section 2|a and fittedl in a similarly shaped notch .28 at the upper end of of the shaft section and nuts 33 which latter hold the shaft in place.

The lower end of the shaft section 2Ic is provided with a crank arm 34 from which a crank pin 35 depends. A thrust plate 36 is carried by said pin so that it is engaged by a cam 31 on the engine driven cam shaft 38, whereupon the drive shaft as a whole is rotated through a part of one revolution for opening the valve, with each revolution of the camshaft.

`As ameans for turning the drive shaft in the opposite direction to close the valve following a cam effected impulse of the drive shaft, acoiled leaf spring is employed. This spring is adapted to be rcontained in the narrow space between the shaft and engine cylinder and has one end fixed in a slot 4| in the shaft section 2lb and its other secured by means of screws 42 to the cylinder of the engine as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Spring means isv provided for urging the shaft 2| downwardly and properly holding together the the intermediate section. A sleeve v21a is fitted v over the joint. This joint functions to provide somewhat of a cam action forflifting the upper section of the shaft and the valve incident to 4an operating impulsel transmitted to the valve whereby the valve will be prevented from stickingrand will operate more efciently. By the use of said sleeve 21a to keep the two shaft sections alined the shaft is made to function in the manner stated without-any Iobjectionable increase in the diameter of the joint portion thereof.

the engine.

At its lower end the section 2-lb'of the drive shaft is provided with 'a' drive key 29 of rectilinear form which engages in a square notch or socket 30 in the upper end vof the short lower section 2| c of the drive shaft, in the same manneras the valve is coupled tothe upper end of the drive shaft. This `lowermost shaft section 2|c is supported in a portion 3| .of the engine block, there being a thrust bearing 32 at the upperend joints formed between the shaft sections 2|a,

This means includes a spring 2 Ib and 2| c. keeper ring 43 mounted on the shaft sectionfZla and abutting` the cylinder head as shown in Fig. 1, with the upper en d of a helical spring IIS` in Contact therewith while the lower end of Vthe spring engages a collar 44 which rotates a lthrust bearing 44 carried on said shaft section.

It is now apparent that when the cam means turns the shaft 2| for opening the valve II, it

beingnoted in Figs. 2 and 3 thatbut a small amount of movement of shaft is required, the turning force transmitted to the drive wedge 21 from the shaft section 2lb produces a cam action andcauses the shaft section 2|a to be lifted. whereby the valve will be somewhat lifted and thereby prevented from sticking or freezing.

This insures a smooth valve operation under a' comparatively low operating force.

Inasmuch as the valve is axially adjustable on a cooled and lubricated seat and is also lubricated and preferably made of a `metal having a low coefficient ofv expansion, and in view of the use of the sectional drive shaft in which the sections are axially movable relative to one another and the valve, it is seen that the valve will be prevented from sticking and will automatically adjust itself to compensate for Wear, also Voperate in a much more reliable and efficientv manner due to the flexibility of the valve mechanism as a whole and the small amount of friction present in the operation thereof.

The cam means, the drive shaft and the valve are so constructed that the ports will be fully opened and closed more quickly than possible with rotary, slide and poppet valves, and remain open lfor a longer period, thereby increasing the efficiency `of the intaking and exhausting action,k

or in other words, the volumetric e'ciency' of vantages hereinbefore noted in a particularl efficacious manner.

`It should be4 noted that the thrust pinand spring in the valve retaining nut provide fortautomatic compensation for wear and automatic adjustment to take care of expansion and coni i traction of the valve and its housing, also effectively oppose the explosion pressure imposed on the closed port area of the valve which, due to 'anU the beveled shape of the valve, would otherwise i lift the valve oif its seat at the most critical instant of its compression holding period.

Also it `isto be noted that, owing to the slight i clearance normally present above the key 20 `(Fig. 6), the upper shaft section 21a gains a slight impetus when forced upwardly bythe joint structure between the two sections of the shaft 2|, so as ,more efficiently to loosen a stuck V Valve. i t a i While I have .shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications andl equivalents of `the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

Iclairn: y 1. In an internal combustion engine structure, a cylinder head having a duct for communication with a cylinder and provided with an` opening through an outer surface thereof, a` o conical valve seat extending through said duct from said opening and having elongated ports` opening into said duct, a conical valve adapted tobe inserted through said opening to engage valve l shaft arranged to provide a cam action and said `seat and having a port extending transversei ly therethrough for registration with` the `ports in said seat, plug means closing said opening and retaining said valve on its seat, including spring means yieldingly urging said valve against its seat, a sectional shaft connected withsaid valve` and in a parallel adjacent relation to the engine cylinder, a joint between sections of the shaft arranged to provide a' cam action and slightly lift the valvefrom its seat incident to an operating impulse being imparted to the shaft,` and i means for oscillating said shaft including a coiled to said shaft and its opposite end portion connected to the adjacent part of said engine cylinder. i

2. In an internal combustion engine valve spring having one of its end portions connected i structure, a cylinder headhaving a duct for com` i munication with a cylinder and provided with an opening through an outer surface thereof, a conical valve seat extending through said duct from said opening and having elongated ports opening into said duct, a conical valve adapted 1 to be inserted through said opening to engage said seat and having a port extending transversely therethrough for registration with the ports in said seat, plug means closing said opening and retaining said Valve on its seat, including spring means yieldingly urging said valve against its seat, a sectional shaft for operatingsaid valve, a joint between the smaller end of the valve and a section of the shaft, affording a slight relative movement of the valve and said shaft While maintaining a 'driving connection between the valve and the shaft, a second joint between sections of the shaft arranged to provide acarn action and slightly lift the upper section of the i shaft till it acts upon and lifts the valve from its seat incident to the shaft being given an operating impulse, and mechanical, engine operable means to oscillate said shaft. l

3. In an internal combustion engine valve structure, a` cylinder head having a duct for communication with a cylinder and provided with an opening through an outer surface thereof,

a conical valve seat extending through said duct from said opening and having elongated ports "opening into said duct, `a conical valve adapted to be inserted through said opening to engage said seat and havingia port extending transversely therethrough for registration with the ports in said seat, plug means closing said opening and retaining said valveon its seat, including spring means yieldingly urging said valve against its" seat, a sectional shaft for operating said valve,`

a joint between the smaller end of the valve and y a section of` the shaft, affording relative movement of the valve and said shaft while maintaining a driving connection between `the valve and the shaft, a second joint between sections of the slightly lift the valve from its seat incident to the shaft beinggiven an operating impulse,icam

means for oscillatingsaid shaft including a crank arm on a section of the shaft, a crank pin de...` ,t

pending from said arm, a thrust plate fixed on said pin, and a cam Working against said thrust` plate. ,t t

4. In an internal combustion engine valve structure, a cylinder head having a duct therein i positioned to communicate with an engine cylin` i der, a` frusto-conical valve seat intersecting said duct and having ports opening into saidl duct, a frusto-conical valve occupying `said seat, a drive shaft axially related to said valve and connected to the smaller end thereof, said shaft being in two sections, one of said sections having a wedgeshaped end and the other section having a `notch i into which said wedge-shaped endextends to form a joint, a sleeve carried by and fitted around said shaft in a surrounding relation to said joint, means to oscillate said shaft about its axis to operate said valve, the two sections of said shaft withdrawing from each other suinciently toloosen the valvefrom its seat whenever xation of` adjacent relation thereto, a coiled leaf spring" having one of its end portions attached exteriorly i to the wall of said cylinder andits opposite `end portion attached to said shaft, said spring being `arranged yieldingly to hold said valve in a normally closed position, and engineoperable means to turn said shaft to open position againstthe o opposition of said spring.

` `JOHN H. GfRUBE.` 

